Sugarcane crushing in most sugar mills across Sindh has yet to begin despite more than a month having passed, leaving growers extremely concerned about the fate of their standing crop. Farmers are protesting over the government’s failure to announce the official support price for sugarcane, which they say is causing uncertainty and financial losses.
According to growers, when sugar was being sold for PKR 120 per kilogram last year, mills were offering PKR 600 per maund for sugarcane. However, despite sugar prices now exceeding PKR 200 per kilogram, mills are reportedly offering only PKR 400 per maund, which farmers argue is insufficient even to cover production costs.
They warn that if the price issue is not resolved immediately, not only will the current crop be affected but future cultivation may also decline due to financial losses.
On the other hand, the Cane Commissioner Sindh has stated that crushing operations have already begun in more than 15 sugar mills across the province and that the situation is gradually improving. He added that the official support price will be finalized by the government, after which the dispute between growers and sugar mills is expected to be resolved.
